By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Kadema (U/E), May 28, GNA – The National Peace Council has equipped residents of Kadema in the Builsa North Municipality with skills to identify and counter violent extremist narratives, misinformation, and hate speech to promote social cohesion in the community.
About 100 participants, including youth, women, and Fulbe settlers, were sensitised on online violent extremist narratives and how extremist groups use such messages to recruit and radicalise people.
The engagement formed part of the Atlantic Corridor Project, which seeks to prevent and counter violent extremism in vulnerable communities in northern Ghana. The project is being implemented with funding support from the Embassies of Norway and Denmark through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Mr Damien Asobayire, Upper East Regional Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, said violent extremist groups were increasingly using online platforms and social media to spread propaganda and manipulate vulnerable individuals.
He explained that many people were unaware that extremist groups relied on online messages, videos, and stories to influence people and incite violence.
“Today’s programme is basically to sensitise the community on online violent extremist narratives. These are messages or stories that violent extremists use to recruit and radicalise community members to join them,” he said.
Mr Asobayire noted that the increasing use of mobile phones and social media among community members made it necessary for people to be cautious about the kind of information they consumed and shared.
“Once you have a phone, you should know the type of messages you read, the type of messages you like and the type of messages that come to your phone, so that you will be able to identify which messages are associated with extremist groups,” he stressed.
Mr David Atualing Angaamba, Principal Programmes Manager at the Peace Council, who took participants through sessions on hate speech and information disorder, urged them to remain vigilant and provide alternative narratives to counter violent messages and promote peaceful coexistence.
Madam Valeria Achaab, a participant, described the programme as beneficial and said it would help reduce conflict and improve understanding among the various ethnic groups in the community.
“Most often, people accept and act on information without verifying it, which sometimes creates unnecessary tensions, but with this sensitisation we have all seen the need to verify information,” she noted.
Another participant, Mr Edward Ateng Apisigu, said the sensitisation had deepened his understanding of misinformation and its effects on peace and security.
“The training will help us prevent misinformation and also help maintain peace in our communities. We are very grateful to the Peace Council and its partners for this education,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Audrey Dekalu